CommRadio’s Top Albums of the Summer
"Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" - Kendrick Lamar
It took Kendrick Lamar 1,855 days since his previous release to drop his latest album. While reviews have been mixed overall, there is no reason to be afraid of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
The album holds a different overall feeling than Lamar’s past work, having a theme of hardships faced by the artist over the past few years. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any of the hyper songs Lamar is known for though, as he mixes the styles up enough to keep the album interesting.
Kendrick Lamar is completely transparent in Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Throughout the tracks, he reveals personal information throughout the album. Some of the songs, namely “We Cry Together,” reach a level of uncomfortableness that have swayed some people of the album.
The highlights of the album include “United In Grief,” “N95,” “Rich Spirit,” and “Savior.”
- Evan Smith
“Harry’s House” - Harry Styles
Harry Styles is the biggest artist around and it is well deserved, all thanks to his latest album, “Harry’s House.” He spent several years only listening to classical music to focus on the literal music itself and allow the lyrics to come to him.
Styles wanted to experiment more as a musician than being a singer. His other albums are amazing musically, but he makes a great point that he showed off his range and singing abilities. He proved he could be both with this record.
An all-time favorite is “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” and several go under the radar like “Boyfriends” and “Daydreaming.” The album explores more about relationships and specific instances in them that people don’t commonly discuss.
For those who had a hot girl summer, Styles definitely helped them through it. Styles is changing the pop and indie scene by bringing back '70s sounds and new wave. This won’t be the last from him.
- Emily McGlynn
Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny
Just in time to level up everyone’s summer vacation playlist, Puerto Rican rapper and singer, Bad Bunny, released his fifth studio album last May.
Within the first month of its release, “Un Verano Sin Ti'' found its way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200; a spot that the album has found its way back to numerous times after the release of other highly anticipated albums.
The album reigned as No. 1, topping some of the hottest albums of the summer, including Drake’s “Honestly, Nevermind” and Harry Styles' “Harry’s House.” During July and later in early-August, the album reclaimed its spot after the release of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance”.
Throughout each track, listeners are carried through the thoughts of a man who is spending his first summer alone post-breakup. This is well-translated both visually and visually from the cover of the album to the wide variation of styles between each track.
The twist in “Después de La Playa” received a lot of buzz from fans. It starts with a slower, romantic tone, and after a small break, the tempo picks up and pivots into a samba style.
This album is not lacking any bass-boosted party hits, with some of the most notable being “Efecto”, “Tarot”, and “Party”.
Bunny’s duet with Bomba Estéreo, “Ojitos Lindos”, puts listeners into their feels with a rhythmic tone, while incorporating a very powerful bass. This track reflects on how he can’t get past his ex-lover, recounting the things he remembers and loves about her.
From bringing all of the summer vibes to its resilience on the Billboard Hot 200, “Un Verano Sin Ti” was undoubtedly an album that defined the summer of 2022.
- Abigail Chachoute
“I Love Life, Thank You” - Mac Miller
The Mac Miller Estate, also known as @92tilinfinity on Instagram, announced that Mac Miller’s 2011 mixtape “I Love Life, Thank You” would be available on all streaming services July 22, 2022.
The mixtape had been previously released in October of 2011 as part of Miller’s “Road 2 a Million Fans” campaign on Twitter. For every 100,000 followers Miller gained on Twitter, he released a song. Upon reaching 1 million followers on Twitter, he released the entire mixtape.
The re-release in July is exciting to many fans of the rapper because the songs had not been previously available on popular streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify.
“Love Lost” is included on this mixtape, which is good news to many of Miller’s fans as the song is widely popular but had only been available on Soundcloud prior to the re-release.
This mixtape captures the essence of Miller’s energy and enthusiasm for his craft at the time of the recordings. He hadn’t yet gone far in his career as a rapper and was still creating upbeat raps with similar messages to “K.I.D.S” and “Blue Slide Park” rather than his more subdued and mellow albums toward the end of his career.
This mixtape was a reminder of the talent that Miller possessed and the passion he had for his career.
- Rachel Newnam
Evan Smith is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ers5828@psu.edu.
Abigail Chachoute is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email axc6070@psu.edu.
Emily McGlynn is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email esm5378@psu.edu.
Rachel Newnam is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email
ren5102@psu.edu.
About the Contributors
Emily McGlynn
Third-year / Broadcast Journalism
Emily McGlynn is a third-year from Birmingham, Michigan majoring in broadcast journalism at Penn State. She is the Co-General Manager alongside Alex Rocco and Dylan Price. She is involved in the news, arts and entertainment, sports and production department. In the news department, she is one of the news producers. She frequently writes reviews for the Arts Department as well. Listening to music, watching movies, and staying updated with news and pop culture are some of her favorite things to do. To contact her, email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Evan Smith
First-Year / Broadcast Journalism
Rachel Newnam
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